Stand for the Dead: Vigils Across the Country

On March 18, 2010, Stand Chapters across the country will come together to honour those who have fallen victim to the genocide in Darfur. Join us as we each light a candle in honour of those who have died and take action for those who are still suffering. See below to find the vigil or event happening in your city.

City

Stand Chapters

Time

Location

Event Description

Guelph, ON

Guelph University

6:00 PM

2nd Floor of the Albion Hotel, on 49 Norfolk St. (Downtown Guelph)

Candlelit Walk for Darfur, featuring speaker Sergeant Debbie Bodkin and members of the Darfuri community Contact guelph@standcanada.org for more information.

Kingston, ON

Queens University

7:00 PM

Common Ground (in the Athletic and Recreation Center)

Stand for the Dead, Light for the Living: coffee house and candle light vigil event. Contact queens@standcanada.org for more information.

9:30 PM

3458 Parc, corner Milton – the ‘Ghetto Shul’

Toronto, ON

University of Toronto, York University

8 PM – 9 PM

Hart House Circle

A candlelit vigil to honour and remember the victims of the Darfur genocide. Featuring a performance by We Are the Take.Contact standuoft@standcanada.org for more information.

Vancouver, BC

University of British Colombia

6:00 PM

Angus Building 321

The Darfur Discussion: A complex look of what’s happening in Darfur, and what can be done. Featuring panelists Senator Mobina Jaffer, Jamie Sedgwick, a human rights/history prof, and Yasin Kiraga-Misago, a WUSC student and former refugee. Free admission & refreshments! Contact ubc@standcanada.org for more information.

5 Responses to “Stand for the Dead: Vigils Across the Country”

On Sunday, July 1st, the second annual Genocide Memorial Service will be held at 9916-154th Street, Edmonton, Alberta. Representatives from many ethnic groups attended, placing labelled rocks in a dry riverbed landscape on the property. Each person spoke for a few minutes about their dedication, songs of peace were sung by the audience and the Raging Grannies of Edmonton. Harpist Gordon Ritchie and soprano Erin Van Der Molen-Pater played and sang Celtic music appropriate to the event. This year, Lewis Cardinal will call the four directions and be the keynote speaker, not only for the Aboriginal peoples, but for all people who lost their lives violently. Forty People attended the first service, representing: Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Scotland, Ireland, Jewish and Muslim peoples, Russians, Germans, Dutch, Turkey, Murdered and Missing Aboriginal women, Ukrainians, Welch, The Interfaith Centre for Education and Advocacy, The Interfaith Chaplains Association of the University of Alberta: it was from this group that the request came to make this an annual event. While the facilitators were Unitarian Minister, Rev. Brian Kiely, and U of A Chaplain Rev. Audrey Brooks, the service was inclusive of all belief systsems, including humanist, athiest and agnostic, as is the Unitarian concept of inclusivity.

The commemorataive stone reads:
” Humanity stands in a river of its own blood”

This garden honors the memory of victims who died violent deaths because of wars, racism, religious persecution, sexual orientation, greed, slavery, ethinic cleansing, and approporiation of aboriginal lands.